Chicken Coop next to Dog Kennel?

[Drk_Wlf]

I currently have 7, 1 year old hens that are in a small coop with a good sized run. When my husband build the coop he didn't listen to me or look at all the plans I printed out....

and the girls don't seem to like it. The only time they are in it is when they eat (because their food is in there to keep it dry) and when they are laying. They won't even sleep in their coop... they spent all of winter roosting on the old dog house that is in there run! The run is also super muddy when it rains.

So this year we are moving the run to our backyard and building a much larger coop... we have 5 more chicks and 6 ducks that will be moving in with the girls once they are big enough.

This time the flooring of the run is probably going to be gravel or a layer of gravel then landscaping fabric with sand over that. The duck are very messy so moisture is definitely going to be an issue, but I think we have that figured out,

plus we are going to make the run much bigger.

The coop is going to be moved right next to my outdoor dog. When I moved in with my husband he turned a large shed into what our friends call the doggie condo. The shed has 2 "stalls" in it and on the outside he put a porch and a hanging roof, so my dogs could have an area both inside and out. There are two stall and two outdoor runs, but I only have one dog out there now. So we were thinking about closing in the one run (which is quite large) as making that the coop, and then connecting the chicken run to that. So the chicken coop would be right next to my dogs outdoor run, would this be ok or would this disturb my chicken? My dog is not very noisy she only barks when there is a very good reason to, like she sees a fox! I was also hoping that by putting the chickens next to my dog that it would deter the foxes and raccoons from trying to get at my chickens, which has been an issue.

We are planning on building a barn on my family's property within the next few years, but we need to do something for the chickens this year. The coop we have right now will just not work with the ducks.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

How does your dog get along with the chickens? If your dog is wanting to eat the chickens, then housing right next door to each other is a bad idea -- too much stress for the chickens and too much temptation for the dog.

But if your dog likes the chickens, and your chickens are not afraid or stress by the dog, then I think it is a great idea.


- not very helpful am I

 

[GoldenGryphon]

Howdy!
As long as the chickens have plenty of space, they will figure out that they are safe from the dog. No biggie. The only problem you may have (I speak from experience ...) is that a dog can pull a chicken through chain link and similarly spaced fencing. The cheapest way to fix this problem is to put a layer of hardware cloth or fine mesh chicken wire along those lengths of fence that the dog has access to. Use wire to fasten everything together, top and bottom, and your chickens will be safe, your dog will have new friends to watch, and you will have happy chickens!
Of course, having more space will make the chickens happy and the dog will love having some active company.
At least that's how it worked for us.

 

[Terri O]

My dog kennel is perpendicular to where the chickens free range. THere is an open door that the dogs can see out of and see the chickens. I have to stand up a board overr that space because if they can see them all they do is BARK! It drives me crazy...when the board is up there is no problem. Of course the barker is a Parson's Russel Terrier and she has to wear a muzzle when out of the kennel because she just loves to "play" with the chickens! Terrri O

 

[Andi]

We built our run/coop right next to our kennel. We have 3 large dogs and everything has worked out fine. Cats and other various critters avoid that area of the yard. Unfortunately stray dogs come in the yard because the dogs are there and then notice the chickens. At least our dogs are good barkers and alert us of the issue. Strong fencing that's also buried helps. The chickens don't seem bothered by the dogs. I've never attempted to introduce them. The chickens give the dogs to watch. All is good.

Best of luck!

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

I am planning the same thing I have a pit and a boxer both over 5 years old and neither bark unless there is something to bark at. I wanted to put the 16 x16 chicken coop and run right next to the 16 x 16 dog kennel. My thoughts were to switch the dogs every other night in the kennel (they usually sleep inside) incase I have any predators test the coop and run. Which I will also be running electric fencing around. I could either shoot or let the dogs out to take care of potential predator. I have been watching this thread closely to see what everyone thought. I do not think my dogs will bark at the chickens for kicks and giggles they are not new to chickens because we had chickens when they were pups.
This thread is helping my decision glad you started it.